Navas Announces Retirement from Costa Rica National Team After 16 Years and 3 World Cups 

Paris Saint-Germain's Costa Rican Goalkeeper #01 Keylor Navas (L) holds the ball during the French L1 football match between FC Metz and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at the Saint-Symphorien Stadium in Longeville-les-Metz, eastern France, on May 19, 2024. (AFP)
Paris Saint-Germain's Costa Rican Goalkeeper #01 Keylor Navas (L) holds the ball during the French L1 football match between FC Metz and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at the Saint-Symphorien Stadium in Longeville-les-Metz, eastern France, on May 19, 2024. (AFP)
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Navas Announces Retirement from Costa Rica National Team After 16 Years and 3 World Cups 

Paris Saint-Germain's Costa Rican Goalkeeper #01 Keylor Navas (L) holds the ball during the French L1 football match between FC Metz and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at the Saint-Symphorien Stadium in Longeville-les-Metz, eastern France, on May 19, 2024. (AFP)
Paris Saint-Germain's Costa Rican Goalkeeper #01 Keylor Navas (L) holds the ball during the French L1 football match between FC Metz and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at the Saint-Symphorien Stadium in Longeville-les-Metz, eastern France, on May 19, 2024. (AFP)

Veteran goalkeeper Keylor Navas announced on Thursday he plans to retire from the Costa Rica national team after 16 years and over 100 international matches, including appearances in three World Cup tournaments.

The 37-year-old Navas made the announcement through his official social media accounts with a video where he described his career highlights.

“I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all the memories we have made. Together we have made history, facing the best players in the world, raising the name of Costa Rica to the highest level,” Navas said.

Navas, considered the best goalkeeper in Costa Rican history, led his national team to the quarterfinals in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. He also played in Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022.

Navas played with Real Madrid where he won the Champions League three times in a row. With Real Madrid, Navas also won one Spanish league title and one Copa del Rey.

After playing for five seasons in Spain he signed with Paris Saint-Germain in France, where he played four seasons.

Navas was expected to play with Costa Rica in the next Copa America but it was not clear if he plans to play in the tournament and then retire from the team. The Associated Press has contacted the Costa Rican Soccer Federation in an attempt to clarify the situation.

“I leave with a heartful of gratitude and my eyes looking forward, always carrying the name of our beloved Costa Rica,” Navas said. “A small country in territory but big in heart. It’s a difficult feeling to assimilate. This stage of my life with the national team has come to an end.”



Real Madrid Survive Dortmund Scare to Reach Club World Cup Semis

Football - FIFA Club World Cup - Quarter Final - Real Madrid v Borussia Dortmund - MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, US - July 5, 2025 Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe scores their third goal. (Reuters)
Football - FIFA Club World Cup - Quarter Final - Real Madrid v Borussia Dortmund - MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, US - July 5, 2025 Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe scores their third goal. (Reuters)
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Real Madrid Survive Dortmund Scare to Reach Club World Cup Semis

Football - FIFA Club World Cup - Quarter Final - Real Madrid v Borussia Dortmund - MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, US - July 5, 2025 Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe scores their third goal. (Reuters)
Football - FIFA Club World Cup - Quarter Final - Real Madrid v Borussia Dortmund - MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, US - July 5, 2025 Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappe scores their third goal. (Reuters)

Real Madrid edged past Borussia Dortmund 3-2 in a dramatic Club World Cup quarter-final on Saturday to set up a semi-final against Paris St Germain.

The Spanish giants stamped their authority on the match early at the MetLife Stadium, dominating possession and opening a two-goal lead thanks to strikes by Gonzalo and Fran Garcia in the 10th and 20th minutes.

Despite the reduced intensity of play in New Jersey's scorching heat, Real comfortably saw out the match, leaving Dortmund unable to mount a comeback until the game exploded into life in added time.

Substitute Maximilian Beier pounced on a rebound in the 93rd minute to pull one back for Dortmund, but a minute later Kylian Mbappe restored Real’s two-goal cushion with a stunning volley, showcasing his trademark composure.

Dortmund refused to back down, however, and Serhou Guirassy’s pace saw him break through Real’s defense only to be pulled down in the box by Dean Huijsen.

The defender was shown a straight red card, ruling him out of the semi-final, and Guirassy coolly converted the resulting spot-kick to reduce the deficit to 3-2.

Dortmund came within inches of forcing extra time when in the ninth minute of added time Thibaut Courtois produced a sensational save to deny Marcel Sabitzer’s powerful strike.

Real Madrid now turn their attention to PSG, who defeated Bayern Munich 2-0 to book their place in the semi-finals. The winners of that clash will face Fluminense or Chelsea in the final.